Niles store robbed

NILES - A local cash advance business was robbed Tuesday morning, and police continue to search for the robber.

A 911 call from National Cash Advance on Youngstown Warren Road in Niles was placed at 10:53 a.m.

Niles police Capt. Ken Criswell said a man entered the store, walked up to a counter and said he wanted a money order. Then he declared, "This is a robbery.''

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Special to the Tribune Chronicle
This video surveillance photo shows the suspect in Tuesday’s robbery. Anyone with any information regarding the suspect or the incident is asked to call Niles police.

It is not known whether he was armed.

An undisclosed amount of cash was taken from the registers, Criswell said.

According to reports, there were only two employees at the office at the time, who told police they were ordered into the restroom. The robber then searched the back area of the establishment before leaving.

There were no injuries, according to reports.

A witness who was parked in front of the business at the time of the robbery saw the suspect leave the store.

"I saw him walk out casual like nothing happened," said Brenda Henderson of Weathersfield. "He had his hands in his pockets. ... He was acting funny."

James Lindenmuth of Warren also was at the plaza at the time of the robbery, although he didn't see anything unusual.

Lindenmuth said he was enjoying a quiet Tuesday and didn't expect to end up 50 feet away from a robbery.

"You never know," he said. "I guess in a way I'm glad I didn't see him."

Police describe the robber as a black male in his 20s or 30s, around 6 feet tall and wearing a white hoodie. He also wore a dark hat with a football helmet logo, and flaps or tassels hanging down, Criswell said.

Police have reviewed video surveillance recordings from the store, and have released stills showing the suspect, Criswell said.

Anyone with information regarding the suspect or the robbery is asked to call the Niles Police Department at 330-652-9944.